LearnJazzPiano.com archives: how about intro's

ayolt -- 01/05/2007, 14:54:02 -- #32192

i was wondering what you all do about intro's. Do you have certain standard things you do? Like progressions that lead into the I chord...? for example modulating through the cylce of fifths through a series of ii-V's. Or do you use I vi ii V etc... Speak up! :)

7 -- 01/06/2007, 02:03:32 -- #32192

One common approach is to use the last few bars of one of the sections. Especially a little progression that leads into the top of the verse. Whether or not you want to include the melody of that section is optional. Often it's enough just to use the progression itself with some noodles on top to get the tune started.

loveforJAZZ -- 01/06/2007, 08:49:25 -- #32192

You may want to listen to Count Basie. I've learned several intros off of him.

Barry -- 01/06/2007, 09:01:37 -- #32192

Yep, the last 4 or 8 bars of a tune often forms the intro.  I also sometimes like to use a I-vi-ii-V progression over a dominant pedal for a change.

Barry -- 01/06/2007, 09:09:42 -- #32192

Oh, and of course, some tunes have famous intros that people play a lot.  Examples are 'Take the A Train', Charlie Parker's intro to 'All The Things You Are' and Red Garland's intro to 'Bye Bye Blackbird'. Bossa novas are often introduced with a simple vamp on the I chord. For other tunes, you can just vamp round part of the progression for an intro.  This often works well with with minor ii-V-I's in.  Softly As In A Morning Sunrise and Yesterdays are examples of tunes you could do that on.

sykora -- 01/07/2007, 22:06:53 -- #32192

I have used ii-V-I's in chromatic descending keys: if the I is in C then: Fm7 Bb7 | Em7 A7 | Ebm7 Ab7 | Dm7 G7 as a 4 bar intro Sort of like circle of fifths but not

Brotherdavies -- 01/08/2007, 04:58:14 -- #32192

I have been using the approach described by 7 for leading into standards (solo piano). I find by playing the chords (with noodles) the tune begins to unfold. You get to refresh the chords before adding melody as well.

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